"Airfield" vs. "airstrip": a linguistic runway exploration

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 03/10/2024, 16:52

English.me team member

Airfield and airstrip. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both terms refer to places used for aircraft takeoff and landing.

What is different?

An airfield is a more general term that can refer to any area where aircraft operate, possibly including runways, buildings, and other facilities. An airstrip is typically a simpler, more basic runway, often with minimal infrastructure.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Airfield

The military has a large airfield outside the city.
Planes are kept in the hangars at the airfield.
The airfield was busy with several flights arriving and departing.

Airstrip

The small plane landed on a remote airstrip.
The airstrip was little more than a paved path through the jungle.
Bush pilots often use makeshift airstrips in rural areas.